1848 First edition 8vo. 32 pages of vibrant chromolithographic illumination, heavily highlighted in gold leaf, including architectural borders, figurative miniatures, and historial initials, iv (Descriptive Index). The fragile moulded papier-mâché binding is incredibly well-preserved. It displays typical but minor chipping to the brittle composition material at the extreme right front bottom corner tip and rear top corner, and a tiny bit of superficial surface wear at the joints; the relief medallions remain sharp and crisp. Designed entirely by the master of the Victorian Gothic Revival book arts, Henry Noel Humphreys, this 1848 production mimics the aesthetic of a high-medieval illuminated manuscript. Every leaf is a dense chromolithographic composition featuring full-colour borders filled with intricate foliage, realistic flora, architectural niches, and stylised figures.